Director of Culinary - Research and Development

Role Overview

As the Culinary Director of a large-scale virtual kitchen, you will be in charge of culinary innovation, overseeing research and development initiatives that directly influence our brands, production strategies, and long-term growth. This role demands a visionary leader with a strong foundation in culinary R&D, large-scale food production, and cross-functional leadership. You will be responsible for designing and implementing new product development strategies, guiding a high-performing team, and aligning R&D efforts with the company’s strategic goals.

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  R&D Strategy Development: Define and implement a forward-thinking culinary R&D roadmap, including new brand development, menu engineering, and production process innovation.

  
  


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  Large-Scale Production Innovation: Oversee the R&D efforts for scalable production of key product categories, including proteins, sauces, vegetables, and stocks.

  
  


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  Project Management: Lead and manage multiple concurrent R&D initiatives, ensuring clear timelines, effective resource allocation, and budget adherence.

  
  


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  Testing and Evaluation: Design and conduct structured R&D tests to assess new culinary concepts' feasibility, scalability, and market potential.

  
  


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  Cross-Functional Integration: Partner with operations, production, and quality assurance teams to ensure successful rollout and execution of R&D innovations.

  
  


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  Team Leadership: Build, mentor, and inspire a talented culinary R&D team. Promote a collaborative, performance-driven culture rooted in creativity and continuous learning.

  
  


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  Performance Oversight: Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for R&D efforts. Conduct regular evaluations and optimize team output accordingly.

  
  


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  Continuous Improvement: Champion a culture of innovation and continuous improvement by introducing cutting-edge culinary techniques, technologies, and methodologies.

  
  

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  Education & Background:

  
  
  
  
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    A bachelor’s degree in food science, culinary arts, or a related field is required.

    
    
  
  
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    Advanced culinary training or certification strongly preferred.

    
    
  
  
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    10+ years of progressive R&D leadership experience in the food industry, ideally within large-scale production or multi-brand restaurant organizations.

    
    
  
  
  
  


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  Strategic and Tactical Leadership:

  
  
  
  
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    Proven ability to translate strategic vision into executable R&D plans.

    
    
  
  
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    Strong grasp of food development processes, research methodologies, and market analysis.

    
    
  
  
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    Exceptional prioritization, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

    
    
  
  
  
  


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  Project & Operational Excellence:

  
  
  
  
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    Track record of delivering complex projects on time and within budget.

    
    
  
  
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    Deep knowledge of food safety regulations and industry best practices.

    
    
  
  
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    Experience managing cross-functional project teams and vendor relationships.

    
    
  
  
  
  


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  Servant Leadership & Communication:

  
  
  
  
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    Empathetic, confident leader who motivates through example and clear direction.

    
    
  
  
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    High emotional intelligence with strong communication and collaboration skills.

    
    
  
  
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    Skilled at navigating and unifying cross-functional teams around shared goals.

    
    
  
  
  
  

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  A leadership role with high impact and visibility in a rapidly growing company

  
  


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  Creative autonomy and the opportunity to shape culinary innovation at scale

  
  


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  Collaborative, forward-thinking team environment

  
  


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  Competitive compensation and benefits package

  
  

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Orbital Kitchens is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We believe in fostering a workplace where everyone is respected, valued, and empowered to contribute their unique talents.